Day 6 Continued

Arriving in Shanghai, we got luggage, boarded our busses and drove to the hotel with a brief stop at the waterfront for photos.  Unfortunately, the weather didn't give us postcard-perfect blue skies.  

What a scramble it was to get everyone's luggage into the rooms in time to head off to the restaurant for our best dinner yet...   elegant hotel setting and wonderful Chinese music by three young women.  See the photo of them playing their traditional instruments.  As most of our meals have been, it was served buffet style on a large lazy susan.

Following dinner, we rode to the theater where we saw an fantastic show of balance, strength and careful precision by the Chinese Acrobats.  Our seats were in the first 3 rows and we were seated in the first 3 rows of the theater.   Our own Patrick Smith became the star of  the next to last act.  He became the target for the nervous knife thrower.  We all enjoyed watching Patrick put on the spot....  Knives were thrown at him while his face was covered.  Actually, the assistant jammed them into the backboard with the sound they would have made by being thrown.  Highlight was when the balloon between his legs was popped with the final knife...  You will have to ask Patrick for more details.